September 2012

September 24, 2012 • Volume 10 • Issue 1 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al.• 35406northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Alex HauserEditor-in-Chief

For the second consecutive year, the school’s schedule has changed.

After the disapproval of the A/B block schedule, the school decided to implement a seven period schedule.

“The initial reason for changing the schedule had to do, in very general terms, with overall student performance. We felt as if the block presented barriers to student learn-ing that could be corrected with year-long classes,” Isaac Espy, principal, said.

Espy said the block schedule had two main disadvantag-es—consistency and the length of class.

“Many students found it difficult to concentrate for an hour and forty minutes,” he said. “The pace, at times, tend-ed to be slow.”

Espy said another benefit to the seven period schedule was having class all year because it “eliminates semester and year-long gaps in crucial areas of study.”

“The seven period day is a ‘normal’ school schedule. George Washington had a seven period day when he was

in high school. [And] thus far, the schedule has been well received,” he said.

Espy said the new school year will be “re-energized” with a faster paced schedule, although Kearston Wells, se-nior, said the classes are “pressed for time.”

“I like that the classes are shorter, and you don’t lose focus. But it’s too short because the teachers are stressed and struggle trying to get everything done in that time pe-riod,” she said.

Wells said another downfall is the inconsistency in class times.

“It’s really unfair because first [period] is super short with announcements and fire drills and second [period] is really long if you keep your bonus period. So the only class you really get the most time in is second,” she said. “So teachers are like ‘Oh I have more time I can teach you and do fun activities,’ but the other classes are so pressed for time, they can’t get as much done and have to cut out all the fun stuff and get straight to work.”

Nancy Reed, history teacher, said she prefers the seven period schedule.

“I like the consistency that it provides, and I believe it

serves most students the best. It also helps alleviate disci-pline issues in the classroom from my experience,” Reed said. “For someone like me who loves to lecture [the seven period schedule] just works best for me.”

Scott Johnson, math teacher, said he “think[s] [he] likes the seven period day.”

“I think it’s better for the kids to have math and reading [all year]; there’s not as many gaps,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping [scores] will go up.”

Amanda Burns, senior, said she likes the seven period schedule, although there are some flaws.

“I’ve only had seven periods my whole life, and when I came to Northridge they were on the block, and I hated it,” she said. “[With the new schedule] I don’t like the bonus, and I don’t like how we lose a credit because we don’t have eight periods like we used to.”

Burns said she likes the shorter classes, and it will just take time to adjust.

“Teachers have to adjust to the time change, but I think it will work out. Only time will tell,” she said.

Rateof

ChangePhoto by: Alex Hauser

New schedule implemented, gets mixed reviews

Renu PanditFeature Editor

Sixty-two percent of the 231 students that took AP exams passed.

Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said that Northridge surpassed other schools in West Alabama like Bryant, Central, Hill-crest and Tuscaloosa County High school, whose passing rates were 21%, 2%, 46% and 47% respectively.

“I am extremely proud of the great work of our students taking AP courses, and the teachers who worked with these students,” Espy said. “I was honestly stunned at the results.”

Espy said the passing rate two years ago was 67%, but that only 173 students took AP exams.

“We had a 26% increase of students pass-ing tests,” Espy said. “We pushed far more students out of their comfort zone and into a major challenge.”

The AP Grant that was initiated last year promises a $100 reward to students who pass an AP English, math or science exam.

Espy said the money will be rewarded to the appropriate students at an assembly the last week of September.

Jane Yu, senior, took and passed the AP Composition, Statistics, Calculus BC, Physics and Chemistry exams in the spring.

“The AP Grant has helped make AP classes more appealing for students be-cause of the incentive the money reward gives,” Yu said.

However, Yu said she would have want-ed to pass her exams even if there was no monetary reward.

“AP courses are helpful when it comes to getting ready for colleges. I’ve already figured out what I like to do because of them,” Yu said. “Also, I think it’s a once in a life time opportunity to explore as many subjects as you want without the huge cost of tuition.”

Jacqueline Hudgins, guidance counselor, said it’s too early to tell if the money had a serious effect on increase in AP students and AP passing rates.

“We always have students who work hard because they have a determined work ethic, and they understand the value of AP in

preparing for college,” Hudgins said. “However,

who wouldn’t want $100 for passing a test?”

Hudgins said she feels students who do well on the AP exams are properly recog-nized.

“Especially those who are named AP scholars,” Hudgins said. “I would love for us to do more, but funding receptions is nearly impossible.”

Zoe Bakker, senior, took and passed the AP Calculus, Chemistry and Composition exams in the spring.

“The money reward didn’t have a huge affect on me, but it was a nice bonus,” Bakker said. “I would have wanted to pass even without it.”

However, Bakker said she believed the money reward is what “caused a rise in students joining AP classes, many of which didn’t even pass.”

“When you have a class of 35 people, and at least five don’t even want to be there, it makes it hard to learn,” Bakker said.

Upon hearing that the school’s passing rate was 62%, Bakker said the school needs to put more focus on people who do well.

“The school system puts so much focus on people who fail the graduation exams.

Rather than changing our schedule to help a few people with their graduation

exams, we should do what’s best for the whole school,” Bakker said.

Do you like the seven period schedule?

YesNo

7 PeriodA/B

Block

20%23%

57%

Which schedule do you like the most?

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150 students polledDesigned by: Alex HauserInformation compiled by: Jakailah Cooper

AP passing rate beats area schools, AP students earn cash

Continued on page 6See Schedule

Julia HocuttStaff Writer

ReplayIt is an interactive, community wide picture sharing website. Students can upload personal pictures from their phones, computers and other devices to the Replay-It “time capsule,” so the school yearbook staff members have more picture options to put in the school’s yearbook.

With the program, student body mem-bers who aren’t apart of the yearbook com-mittee now have the opportunity to help out their staff and participate themselves.

“I really like how the whole school can get connected and involved,” year-book editor Katherine Duckworth, ju-

nior, said.“ReplayIt is a great way for students to

share their pictures with other classmates. Being a member of the yearbook staff, I would love students to upload their fun pictures,” Hallie Young, junior, said.

Site helps students contribute to yearbook

Cash in your scores

AYPPage 6

Hillcrest gamePage 7

Designed by: Alex HauserInformation compiled by: Jakailah Cooper

ZoologyPage 8

St

udents who made f ves

Stud

ents who made fours

Stud

ents

who made threes

2 The Northridge ReporterSeptember 24, 2012Opinion

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SIPA All-Southern (2003, 2005–2011) • ASPA All-Alabama (2003–2011) • NSPA All-American (2004, 2008, 2011) • Best SIPA Newspaper in Alabama (2003–2007) • NSPA News Story of the Year (2005) • SIPA First Place News

Story (2007) • SIPA First Place Review (2009) • Rick Bragg Award for Feature Writing (2009)

*Denotes state, regional and national award winners

Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or ad-ministration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Letters must be submitted to Susan Newell in room 109 or emailed to [email protected]. The

Editor-in-Chief *Alex HauserManaging Editor*Raiha Bajwa Feature Editor*Renu PanditNews Editor*Sarah Katherine Barnes

Entertainment Editor*Raiha BajwaSports EditorAbby AllenOpinion Editor*Raiha Bajwa Beat Editor*Alex Hauser

Copy EditorsRabisa Khan, Jared Lotfi, Kelly Burnham Infographics EditorJakailah CooperArt EditorKanJalla DancerArtistsCheQuita Burrell, Katie Poore

Business Manager*Raiha BajwaPhotographersMorgan DeWitt, Julia Hocutt, Jared LotfiStaffJordan Hutchinson, Victoria Love, Savren Nelson, Kayla PateAdviser*Susan Newell

Our ThoughtsChanges need to be studied

They say change is good. But too much change can wear you down. For the past three years the school has seen drastic

changes in schedule. Seniors and juniors have been through the four-block schedule, A/B schedule, and now a seven pe-riod day. Also, the bonus block was added mid-way through the 2010-2011 school year.

These changes have led to new exemption policies and different credit requirements for incoming freshmen each year.

Trial and error is inevitable as we constantly try to im-prove the system with new ideas; but it also leads to flus-tered students and teachers who get uprooted each year, having to learn to work a different way each time. Students and teachers never seem to get accustomed to the changes before things are changed again.

Last year students and teachers expressed their opinion about the schedule change; it does not seem like they were listened to.

The Northridge Reporter feels that if future changes are made parents, teachers and students should have a say.

agree (18) disagree (0)

School populationStudents: 1238Faculty and staff: 90

Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly.

Tuscaloosa City Board Policy: It is the official policy of the Tusca-loosa City Board of Education that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, age or creed, be excluded for participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimination under any program, activity or employ-ment.

Advertising & Subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Reporter Staff at (205) 759-3734 ext. 235 or [email protected] to advertise in or subscribe to The Northridge Reporter.

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295

[My girlfriend] was excited. I asked her with a guitar pick puzzle. I gave her an envelope with all the picks in it that said “unscramble” on top, and it spelled out “HOMECOMING?” when you solved it. She tweeted me a picture saying a yes.

Thompson Schille, Sophomore

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Anna Hayslip &

John To

dd

I asked Anna to homecoming by making it a question on her his-tory test. I thought it was a good idea. She was surprised and really excited.

John Todd Livingston, Junior

I made a slideshow of embarrass-ing pictures and videos I had of my boyfriend, and at the end it said ‘now that I’ve embarrassed you, will you go to homecoming with me?’ I played it in front of our whole youth group. He said yes, of course.Katie Hauser, Sophomore

Katie Hauser

How did you ask your date to homecoming?

Thompson Schille

Art by: Katie Poore

Photos by: Julia Hocutt

HALT: take a stand against bullying

3EntertainmentThe Northridge ReporterSeptember 24, 2012

Sarah Katherine BarnesStaff Writer

Created by Chris McDonald and Will Taylor, the two good friends who created Mugshots Bar and Grill down the street, the atmosphere at Glory Bound Gyro Co. is fun and laid back, with several posters, paintings and logos on the walls.

According to the story on the front of the menu, “Glory Bound Gyro Company is a product of two southern guys trav-eling Greece and finding a love for Greek cuisine.”

Glory Bound is best known for their hummus, which they offer in 8 different flavors. There are 24 different gyros to choose from and there is even a “glory bound grocery” sec-tion on the menu where customers can purchase dressings and sauces used in the restaurant by the bottle.

I had the cheese rolls appetizer, and it was very satisfactory. The four cheeses, breaded and deep fried, come with lettuce and dip. I give Glory Bound 5 out of 5 stars, for the scenery and the taste of the food, as well as the exceptionally wide and diverse selection.

Sarah Katherine BarnesStaff writer

This summer, the Thespians Society took a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend the International Thespians Convention for one week with advisor Donna Wright.

There, they went to workshops and classes headed by professionals from all over the nation. They also saw plays performed by other schools.

Three of the members: Nick Motz, senior, Katelyn Lipscomb, senior, and Alex Stella, 2012 alumni, were entered into the individual event showcase, where they performed for judges. All won superior placing.

“I did a solo song from the Adams Family,” Lipscomb said. “But my CD broke when I got there, and I was disqualified.”

Nick Motz said he did a duet comedic act with Stella, but performed over the time limit, and they were disqualified.

“One of the judges came up to us afterwards and told us we would have won first place if we hadn’t gone on too long,” Motz said.

The duet was the same act Stella and Motz per-formed and won first place with at the state con-vention.

The Drama Department will be performing Of Mice and Men in early to mid November.

Wright said she has been waiting to put on the play for a long time but never had the perfect cast.

“This year, I think we have the key actors that we need,” Wright said.

208 McFarland Circle N.Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

Office:(205) 345-7000

For Appointments:(205) 345-2000

Gordon C. BryarsHarvey A. EdwardsStephen E. AllenMyron S. Chwe

Elizabeth C. EmigJ. Sid Smith

Thomas A. RosenstielJoanne C. Myers

2751 Hospital Dr.Northport, AL 35476

Phone: (205)-339-3039Fax: (205)-339-9908

OB/GYNOf West Alabama

Sarah Katherine BarnesStaff Writer

Sweet CeCe’s yogurt bar, located on University Blvd. is a very cute and happy place.

They have fun specials every day of the week written on a chalk board in the front such as “dress up like a hula dancer for 10 percent off” and “bring your pooch and get a free dog treat.”

The offers change constantly. As for the yogurt, they offer a decent amount of flavors, and

an enormous variety of different toppings to choose from; 60, to be exact. Toppings include several types of breakfast cere-als and candies.

All yogurt flavors are under 115 calories per serving, and are all gluten-free, with the exception of cake batter, cookies and cream and red velvet cake flavors.

Sweet CeCe’s gets 4 out of 5 stars for the bright atmo-sphere and wide selection of toppings.

Sarah Katherine BarnesStaff Writer

When I ate on Sept. 2 at Lope’z Mexican restaurant, for-merly Lupe’s, the meal was not impressive. The chips and dip were good, but my quesadilla was sort of raw and limpy and tasted a bit like how I would imagine diesel to taste.

I was the only one in the restaurant besides the waiter, and the whole time I was eating, a Spanish soap opera was playing on the TV in the corner. It was quite loud and obnoxious.

There were a few decorations, including several types of beer advertisements and some sombreros hanging on the wall.

Lope’z Mexican restaurant deserves 2 out of 5 stars, one star for the outside deck in the front which was quite nicely deco-rated with flowers, and one star for the cheese dip and salsa.

Glory Bound Gyro Co. offers unique Greek cuisine

Sweet CeCe’s is fun

Lope’z disappoints

Jared LotfiStaff Writer

Lately, the action genre has main-ly concentrated on superheroes and sci-fi thrills from The Aveng-

ers and The Amazing Spiderman to Pro-metheus.

Yet for fans who enjoy a little more than the standard “run and gun” plotline found in titles like The Expendables 2, Lawless promised to bring out some of the quality found in the crime and historical genres while holding on to some genuine emo-

tional value. The film was a healthy attempt at creat-

ing a classic but just managed to miss the mark.

The story is a Prohibition-era tale based on Matt Bondurant’s fact based The Wet-test County in the World.

The story centers on the Bondurant family who lived in Franklin County, Vir-ginia, still known as the “moonshine capi-tal of the world,” mostly in commemora-tion of the estimated 99 out of every 100 residents who were involved in the illicit sale of alcohol during the 1920s.

Shia LaBeouf plays the foolhardy Jack Bondurant, set on edging his way into a bigger role in the family’s under-the-table business, run by his brothers: the stoic Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke).

The brothers run afoul of a district at-torney who seeks to cash in on the lucra-tive moonshining and appoints a federal agent named Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) to coerce the locals into giving in.

Unwilling to “lay down for anyone,” the Bondurants strike a deal with gangster Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman) and play a

dangerous game of cat and mouse with the law.

Oldman took on an uncustomary back seat role but didn’t fail to give a solid per-formance as the brazen gunslinger.

Tom Hardy played his typical macho figure with a well-practiced presence, put-ting on a convincing southern accent, and served as a good contrast to LaBeouf’s boyish and nearly innocent character.

An excellent re-portrayal of one of the most controversial segments in American history, Lawless will surely entertain but not necessarily thrill.

Lawless reboot tries but falls short of becoming a classic

Art by: Sarah Katherine Barnes

Thespians awarded superior at International Convention

Northridge Drama Department will perform

Of Mice and Men November 10-11

Homecoming Dress-up DaysMonday TuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday

Favorite College TeamNerd day

Senior Citizen/Baby DayTacky HolidaysSchool Colors

Kelly Caroline BurnhamStaff Writer

The aftermath of 9/11 did not pertain only to New Yorkers. It spread past the American border and across the Pacific, affecting people across the other side of the globe.

Ayesha Tariq, mother of senior Raiha Bajwa, was in Karachi, Pakistan at the time of the terror-ist attacks.

“It was supposed to be just an-other regular day until my hus-band came home from work and told me about this horrible event,” she said.

She said that the attacks have had a bigger affect on the eastern communities “than anyone in the western world can imagine.” The violent acts were the beginning of “rampant terrorism in Pakistan.”

“It makes me feel insecure no matter where I am,” Tariq said.

She said if she is in Pakistan, there is a risk of being blown up. If she is in the United States, there is a risk of being scrutinized sim-ply for being a Pakistani and a Muslim.

“I think it has caused a perma-nent change in the world we live in,” she said.

Timothy Rutley, senior, who had family in New York City when the attack occurred, said, “I remember everyone crying,” while at school in Niagara Falls, New York.

He said his class watched the burning tower on the TV and witnessed the second plane hit the towers, keeping the lights off in respect. His school was under lockdown the whole time.

“I was a little kid, about five or six years old, so I was scared,” Rutley said.

His parents, he learned, were crying and trying to call his fam-ily in New York City.

“I thought, maybe, some of my family had died since they live there,” he said.

Kaitlyn Duren, junior, said she remembered her mom and dad being very upset, but couldn’t fig-ure out why.

“I remember looking at the television and witnessing the towers fall down. It was horrify-ing,” she said.

5:45 a.m.Hijackers pass through Security.

7:59 am: Flight 11 takes off with 5 hijackers aboard.

8:14 am: Flight 175 takes off with 5 hijackers aboard.

8:19 am:Flight 11 crew member, Betty Ong, alerts ground personnel that they have been hijacked. Ground personnel tells the FBI.

8:42 am:Flight 93 takes off with 4 hijackers aboard.

8:46 am:Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower.

9:03 am:Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower.

9:37 am :Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.

9:45 am:The White House is evacuated.

9:57 am:Passengers aboard flight 93 start organizing an attack on the hijackers.

9:59 am:South Tower Collapses.

10:03 am:Flight 93 is crashed 20 minutes away from the White House, killing all 40 passengers.

10:14 am:Pentagon E ring collapses.

8:20 am:Flight 77 takes off with 5 hijackers aboard.

Photo by Mike HvozclaRemembering: Tribute in Light Memorial lit in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks. The tribute is produced by the Municipal Art Society of New York, and uses massive searchlights to create two vertical columns of light where the twin towers stood. The lights illuminate over Manhattan annually. “The idea is creative and a beautiful way to honor those who died,” Kathleen Kennedy, junior, said. Photo from flickr.com.

Information compiled by Savren Nelson from http://timeline.national911memorial.org/

Designed by Renu Pandit

All artwork by Renu Pandit

9/11/014 The Northridge Reporter

September 24, 2102Feature

Do you feel safer after Osama Bin Laden’s death?

Yes No64 students polled. Information compiled by Kelly Burham and Kayla Pate. Deigned by Renu

Pandit.

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A worldwide Impact

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9/11 attacks alter those outside U.S. borders

flashback10:28 am: North Tower collapses.

11:02 am:Evacuation of Lower Manhattan.

Dèjá Vu: 9/11/12Middle-Eastern attacks wreak havoc upon U.S.

5FeatureThe Northridge ReporterSeptember 24, 2012

decision.”Senior Kyle Anderson said, “There

will always be radicals, and we shouldn’t overcompensate for that fact.”

Yet not all citizens place faith in the nation’s foreign policy.

Kate Marie Davis, junior, said that she saw a Fox News bulletin after school on the eleventh and was ap-palled. Davis said the United States should make a show of force in de-fending the embassies.

“Middle Eastern relations and for-eign policy in general is a disaster,” she said.

On the following Thursday, US em-bassies in Egypt and Yemen suffered similar raids, and the violence contin-ued to escalate as protests flared up in Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, and Kuwait according to Reuters.

Despite the risk of angering militant groups further, the Yemeni government allowed a platoon of US Marines to enter the country and secure the area.

Protesters continue to clash with po-lice forces in countries across the Arab world. “When the towers were hit, I was in my European History

class at Tuscaloosa County High School. I was in disbelief, and I think it’s changed us permanently,” -Stephen Black, Spanish Teacher

Black

“I was teaching at Hillcrest when we were attacked, and I was shocked, really. I couldn’t believe something like that hap-pened on American soil. I can’t believe it’s been 11 years,” -Carter Hill, English Teacher

Hill

“I remember being in my 1st grade classroom playing when my teacher got some news and turned on the TV. They were showing the towers falling over and over again, and I was a little too young to understand, but it was still sad. I saw people falling out of windows and hanging from sides of the buildings. People were running from big clouds of smoke trying not to suffocate. I remember hearing and seeing am-bulances try to bring people to safety. I’ll never forget that day, it brought the U.S. together as a whole,” -Brittany Spencer, senior

“We had orange popsicles for lunch and the rest was his-tory,” -Vaughan Veillon, senior

Hindsight

Will we ever recover from the aftermath of 9/11?

Yes No64 students polled. Information compiled by

Kelly Burnham and Kayla Pate. Deigned by Renu Pandit.

Jared LotfiStaff Writer

A flurry of newscasts bombarded sleepy Americans as the fact

that the United States had once again come under attack became known.

Bullets and rockets flew into the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans as well as several Libyan staffers.

Officials originally suspected that the cause was backlash at the release of a film online depicting Mohammed as a child molester but the assault is believed to have been a premeditated attempt to strike at the United States on the anniversary of the 2001 World Trade Center attack.

Radical militant groups, however, quickly began using the film to incite anti-American sentiments throughout the Middle East.

President Obama condemned the attacks and said that the Libyan gov-ernment’s actions would determine the extent of US involvement according to the Charlotte Observer.

“Now is not the time for an aggres-sive stance,” Parker Evans, junior, said. “President Obama made the right

Spencer

Veillon

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The Northridge ReporterSeptember 24, 2012News6

Kelly BurnhamStaff Writer

The city’s technical education center, TCT, is directly affected by even the slightest change.

This school is dependent on all three of Tuscaloosa’s public educa-tion facilities: Bryant, Central and Northridge, and the new change in schedule affects them as much as it affects Northridge.

Kathleen Hughston, TCT prin-cipal, said the change should not adversely affect the school.

“It’s too early to make that judg-

ment; this is not a new concept. I am confident we can make this work,” she said.

Hughston said when looking at it realistically, the schedule is going to challenge those students who are not used to having good time man-agement and organization skills.

She said that TCT is striving to adapt to these new changes.

Charlie Gross, senior, said he is taking a two-period HOSA course at TCT.

“[The class periods] are a little shorter than what we’re used to, but it’s not that big of a deal. It has its

ups and downs, but overall I think HOSA is worth it,” he said.

Kathleen Kennedy, junior, said she hates the new schedule.

“I hate it, but I love the feeling of driving away because I’m leav-ing all that work behind… it mess-es up my entire schedule because I didn’t take AP US History last year. HOSA takes two periods, and I play a sport, so that leaves two pe-riods for academics,” she said.

“They put me in AP Lang, and I didn’t want it until my senior year, and I miss forty minutes of practice a day. I have five times the amount

of homework and get home at six o’ clock… do the math.”

“I think in my senior year it will be worth it, but not right now,” Kennedy said.

Ellie Cauthen, senior, said, “I like it a lot better because I get to go there every day and stay for first, second and bonus period.”

“It’s much longer [than the forty-seven minutes at Northridge], so that’s really no change.” she said, “There are so many courses you can take there that our schools don’t offer, and it can help you find a ca-reer,” Cauthen said.

Raiha BajwaManaging Editor

Each year a school’s academic progress is measured through a program called AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress).

In the past AYP has been based on students’ performance in state issued graduation exams, which tested skills in math, language, reading, science and social studies. The goal was to have all students scoring at or above grade level to achieve AYP, by the spring of 2014, but new rules state that the graduation exam be omitted.

Progress will be measured using ACT scores and end of the year examinations administered in math and English beginning this year with 9th and 10th grade.

Isaac Espy, principal, said AYP was an unfair representa-tion of students’ abilities.

“Let’s say we would require students to run a ten minute mile in order for everyone to be in shape,” he said. “The first year your goal will be for 70 percent of students to achieve the goal, next year it would be 75 percent, then 80 and so on.”

“A ten minute mile does not necessarily mean you are a

Dr. Arti Pandey, MD Internist

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Phone: (205)-344-6344Fax: (205)-344-6464

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Because the classes are shorter, teachers have had to change their lesson plans and omit activities that take too much time.

Johnson said he had to “reduce the amount of practice [in class].” Wells said she liked being able to work together with her classmates during the block schedule.

good athlete,” Espy said. “It may be an indicator of a basic physical competency.

To expect all students to run a ten minute mile is a difficult task, especially when you have athletes that are training to run a five minute mile,” said Espy.

“That is AYP,” he said. Beth Allaway, science teacher, said she does not agree

with the format that is currently used to track AYP.“It was a poor attempt by the government to track stu-

dent progress,” she said. “It just shows who can pass the test, the number of dropouts you had and the percent that graduated.”

Allaway said it does not fully represent the student achievements.

“It doesn’t show where the student was at the beginning of the year and how far they have come.”

The school has a tradition of academic excellence, Espy said, but in the 2011-2012 school year, the school did not reach its goal for AYP.

“Despite outstanding ACT scores and AP scores, we need to correct student deficiencies in basic reading and math skills,” Espy said. “That is important.”

Espy said he thinks that ACT scores are a better way of

“I miss the group stuff. You had more time to think together, and do things to-gether, and learn together. Now it’s like you do a group [activity] and it’s not any longer than five min-utes and you don’t learn anything,” Wells said.

Karsyn Nunley, junior, said school seems to “fly-

By: Kayla PateStaff Writer

The All-Academic Team now has 25 members after inducting nine new students Thursday, Sept. 6.

Principal Dr. Espy said a student must make at least a 30 on the ACT to become a member of the team.

He said be prepared for the ACT and go to tutor-ing.

“It is great to take the ACT as many times as pos-sible,” Espy said.

Espy said the team has a secret mascot, the armadil-lo, and you have to become a member to understand the mystery.

Will Stewart, sophomore and a new member of the All-Academic Team, said he was excited to be induct-ed. This summer was his first time taking the ACT.

“I just wanted to see what it was like,” Stewart said.

Since being inducted, Stewart has learned a lot about the secret mascot.

“I’m not allowed to talk about the armadillo,” Stew-art said, “If you want to know you have to become a member.

recording AYP.“The ACT is a more accurate measure of the abilities of

students learning at higher levels,” he said. Laura Worley, junior, said she thinks that the ACT might

make AYP drop. “Graduation exams aren’t really overtly difficult; people

just don’t try,” she said. “[The ACT] is more difficult than the graduation exams; people who don’t pass graduation exams won’t work harder to score well on the ACT.”

Worley said a reward might help students be more mo-tivated.

“I feel like the grant was a good idea for AP exams to make people pass,” she said. “So I think if there was a re-ward for good scores other than scholarships people might care more.”

Espy, who introduced the bonus period to the schedule, said prep classes have helped students’ scores.

“Students will do as well as their preparation allows them to be,” he said. “Our ACT scores began to spike when we introduced the bonus period spring 2011.”

All city schools now follow the bonus block.“I guess that makes me a hero,” he said. “Depends on

who you ask.”

School fails AYP, state moves to end of year tests

TCT students adapt to new schedule change

by” with the seven period schedule.

“You get a change in scenery every so often and the day seems shorter,” Nunley said.

The new schedule keeps students from taking both AP math classes during high school, but Johnson said this could be correct-

ed by allowing students to double up on certain math classes such as geometry and Algebra II or Precalcu-lus and AP statistics.

“[The state] will have to change the prerequisite,” he said. “It presents more challenges, but I like a challenge.”

Johnson said students seemed to lose focus dur-

ScheduleContinued from page 1

ing the previous hour and a half class, and that the day seems shorter with the seven period day.

“I’ve been teaching the block since 1995; I’m tired of it any ways,” Johnson said. “Once everyone gets used to [the seven period schedule], it’ll be fine. Stu-dents just need to give it a chance.”

All-Academic Team inducts new members

Hands-on : Cody Harris, senior, solders in Philip Howell’s wiring class at TCT, while students take notes in Sally Latham’s HOSA class. Howell retires this year. HOSA students start clinicals at the end of the nine weeks. Senior HOSA student Vaughan Veillon said his class is studying health safety and medical abbreviations to prepare to shadow different health care professionals.

Photos by: Jared Lotf

Secret: Principal Isaac Espy shows off the All-Academic team mascot.

7The Northridge ReporterSeptember 24, 2012 Sports

School fails AYP, state moves to end of year tests

Abby AllenSports Editor

In the eyes of football player Bo Scar-brough, the only thing better than being a junior and already committed to playing college football is having committed to the college of the number one football team in the nation.

Two weeks before he committed, 6-foot-2, 218 pound, running back on the football team, Bo Scarbrough, had already decided he wanted to play football at the University of Alabama.

While standing on the football field im-mediately following the win over Hillcrest, Scar-brough verbally committed to playing at Alabama.

“It takes a lot of pressure off of me,” Scarbrough said, “I have nothing to worry about because I’ve already made my deci-sion.”

Although he decided on Alabama, he said it was not the only college on his mind.

Georgia, Clemson, and Auburn were a few colleges where Scarbrough could have made his next move.

“I felt like it (Alabama) would be the best place for me,” Scarbrough said.

Scarbrough said he has always wanted to play football but not necessarily at Ala-bama.

“I used to dream about playing at Okla-homa University,” he said, “but you know, dreams change.”

Head football coach Mike Smith, said he first knew Scarbrough’s talent when he saw him play in middle school.

“When you see his speed and watch him bounce around like a pin-ball because he is so much bigger than everything else out there, you realize he is a special player,” he said

Scarbrough said com-mitting to play for Alabama will not affect who he is or how he plays during his ju-nior or senior year.

“I’m still the same person and player I have always been,” he said, “and that’s not going to change.”

Football team beats Hillcrest at NHS

‘Starbo’ commits to UA

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bringing the score to 9-8, Patriots.A game-changing touchdown

with a two-point conversion was scored with 5:32 left in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 16-9 Jags.

The celebration was short-lived when the Patriots came back and scored another touchdown to tie the game, only to have their ex-tra point blocked, bringing the score to 16-15 with the Jags in the lead.

In one climactic moment, the Jags scored a final touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter to bring the score to 23-15 and send-

Morgan DeWittStaff Writer

Coming off of a 40-30 win against Bob Jones on Aug. 31, the football team beat the Hillcrest Patriots 23-15 on Sept. 7.

The game started with the Pa-triots getting a safety in the first quarter and a touchdown in the second.

The score at halftime was 9-0, Patriots. The team came back in the third quarter, scoring a safety followed by a touchdown, but the intensity heightened when the Patriots blocked the extra point,

ing them to victory.Mike Smith, head football

coach, said the game was impor-tant because it was a “regional and in-town rival, and they were the last team to beat us at home in the 2012 season.”

“Our defense played well but our offense was not on top,” Smith said.

Bo Scarborough, junior, gained 160 yards on 24 carries and ended the game with a 30 yard touch-down run, bringing the score to 23-15.

“We didn’t execute during the first half,” Scarborough said, “but

I think we did great in the second half to pull through the game.”

James Cox, senior and wide receiver, said, “Every mistake we made was made only by us. It was us holding us back during the first half. This game was a real team effort. It was a tough win.”

The student section celebrated the win by storming the field. The senior class was exceptionally excited to beat Hillcrest this year after a 14-35 loss last year.

Taylor Goodall, senior, said, “We overcame all of our obstacles and got our momentum back. The crowd played a huge part.

Photo by: Alex Hauser

First Down: Hillcrest defenders try to stop the Northridge offense, Phillip Cunningham, (80), C’yonati Lewis, (88), Keyon Handley, (75), and Daryl Pham. (70), from widening their lead. Northridge won 23-15 on Sept. 7. “The team played strong,” Lewis said.

Katie PooreStaff Writer

The girls varsity volleyball team won their second game of the season, defeating Hillcrest High School within the first three matches on Sept. 6.

The volleyball team won their matches with scores of 25-7, 25-22 and 25-15.

Kiana Johnson had two kills, three digs, one ace, 15 assists and two blocks.

Amanda Guarisco had five kills, four aces and one block.

Anna Lee Petitt ended the game with three kills, three aces and one block.

The varsity team now has three wins and zero losses for the sea-son.

They will play at the Hewitt-Trussville Tournament on Sept. 22.

Volleyball team beats Hillcrest

Volleyball games at NHSHillcrest Sept. 27 5:00Oak Mountain Oct. 2 5:00Brookwood Oct. 4 5:00Holy Spirit Oct. 9 5:00Area Tounament Oct. 18-20

Football scoresBob Jones 40-30Hillcrest 23-15Minor 28-13

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Phone: (205)-364-220

Run: Bo Scarborough, junior, runs the ball during the game against Bob Jones.

Photo by: Beth Allaway

September 24, 20

12 Volum

e 10 Issue 1

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

It’stim

ePage 7

Sarah Katherine B

arnesStaff

Writer

With potential liability con-cerns,

the state

is asking

school districts

to draw

up policies on w

hat animals, other than

service animals, should be allow

ed in schools.

Zoology teacher Kris Strickland said

the rule states that the school may not

have any animals inside the building. The

rule is upsetting for students in zoology classes.

On Facebook C

olt Wrobel, senior, post-

ed, “No pets in zoology? There goes m

y senior fun. #lam

e.” W

robel said he would have w

anted a snake or a lizard to study and take care of in the class, had the rule not been in-troduced.

“I would have chosen som

e sort of rep-tile,” he said.

“I don’t know exactly w

hy there’s this new

rule. I heard from a few

people though that having the pets inside the school w

as illegal, but that N

orthridge had been dis-obeying that law

for years and someone

finally put their foot down on the issue,”

Wrobel said.Jam

eson Hubbard, senior, tw

eeted

@ohjags, “Let’s release w

ild animals into

the halls of Northridge to let everyone

know w

e want zoology pets.”

“I’ve been waiting since freshm

an year to get to be in zoology and take care of a pet,” H

ubbard said. “It’s disappointing to finally get here and m

iss out. The class is just a b

un

ch o

f w

ork

; it’s not as fun.”

New

z

oo

l-o

gy

teacher K

rystal Flantroy said she’s glad there’s a regulation for the anim

als.“A

nimals need to be kept and m

ain-tained by their ow

ner, not a group of people, not one person one w

eek, and another person the next,” she said. “W

hat concerns m

e is that at the end of the year these anim

als were just being given aw

ay. The students are going to college, and they’re not going to take the anim

al with

them. Som

etimes the students don’t even

make sure their anim

al is being taken to a safe environm

ent.”Flantroy said that by the tim

e she

moved into her new

classroom she didn’t

even know w

here the animals w

ent. She said she asked around and nobody knew

w

hat had happened to them.

“I don’t know if they w

ere released into the w

ild, sold to a pet store or tak-en som

ewhere else. N

obody knew,” she said.

According

to The

Seattle Times, school

districts have

begun adopting

policies in

recent years

that in

many cases lim

it or even ban anim

als in the classroom

unless they’re part of science

projects, such is the case at Northridge

Principal Isaac Espy said, “It is not typical practice to house anim

als on a long term

basis in a school classroom.

Upon the adoption of the pets, the stu-

dents keep

detailed journals

on the

health, behavior and daily husbandry of these anim

als.”To ensure that the anim

als make the

switch from

owner to ow

ner at the end of the year, safely and hum

anely, students have been required to have a post-project placem

ent plan.

8B

eatThe Northridge ReporterSeptem

ber 24, 2012

Zoology loses pets, students’ interest

I’ve been waiting since freshm

an year to get to be in zoology and take care of a pet. It’s disappointing to fi-nally get here and m

iss out.Jam

eson Hubbard, senior

Bookw

orm:

Andrew

Al-

len, senior, w

orks on his class-w

ork during Zoology. “I pretty m

uch took zoology to have a pet, and now

I’m

stuck in a class that’s not fun,” A

llen said.

Photo illustration by: Alex H

auser

Photo by: Morgan D

eWitt